Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, Malik Khuda Bakhsh, has claimed that due to the Iran-Israel conflict, oil marketing companies in the country are not supplying petroleum products to dealers according to demand.

In a statement, Malik Khuda Bakhsh said that oil marketing companies are not delivering supplies to petrol pumps as per their orders. OGRA (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) has also directed oil marketing companies to maintain a mandatory stock level of 20 days, as stipulated in their licenses.

Malik Khuda Bakhsh stated that there is an ample supply of petroleum products in the country. Still, some oil marketing companies are attempting to capitalise on the regional situation by reducing supplies, anticipating a potential increase in petroleum product prices due to current circumstances.

According to Malik Khuda Bakhsh, Karachi’s daily petrol demand is 2,500 metric tons, and oil marketing companies have an adequate reserve of petroleum products. He stated that there are daily sales of 2,500 metric tons of petroleum products in Karachi, and oil marketing companies have sufficient stockpiles for over 20 days. There is no shortage of petroleum products in Karachi; however, one company’s pumps have run dry because it did not supply its dealers.

He further emphasised that according to OGRA’s standards, the country has an ample oil reserve. The government must prevent oil marketing companies from creating an artificial shortage of oil. If a fuel shortage occurs, the public will suffer, and the government will face criticism.